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Learn about what TRICARE plan is right for you and your family.
TRICARE Open Season
TRICARE Open Season Ended Dec. 9
Changes you made during open season start Jan. 1, 2026.
Did you miss open season? You may be able to change your TRICARE coverage following a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event.
Each fall, TRICARE Open Season lets you change your health care plan for the next calendar year. Changes you make during this time start on Jan. 1 of the next year.
TRICARE Open Season applies to you if you have or qualify for TRICARE Prime (including the US Family Health Plan and the TRICARE Prime Demo), or TRICARE Select. (Open season doesn’t apply to active duty service members.)
Making Enrollment Changes Outside of TRICARE Open Season
Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change enrollment to a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select following a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event.
A QLE is a certain change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which may mean different TRICARE health plans are available to you and your family members.
A TRICARE QLE opens a 90-day period for you to make eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member creates an opportunity for all eligible family members to make enrollment changes.
Your eligibility depends on your beneficiary status.
You’ll need to have coverage in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible for vision coverage.
Outside of Federal Benefits Open Season, you can only enroll in FEDVIP or make changes to your FEDVIP plan if you have a FEDVIP qualifying life event. Some FEDVIP QLEs are different from TRICARE QLEs.
Visit BENEFEDS to check your eligibility, compare FEDVIP plans and rates, enroll in a plan, and more.
Learn More About Open Season
TRICARE Open Season applies to you if you have or are eligible for:
TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to you if you’re:
An active duty service member
A TRICARE For Life beneficiary
Enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, or TRICARE Young Adult
If you’re eligible for TRICARE Open Season, you can:
Stay in your plan. If you want to stay in your current TRICARE health plan, you don’t have to reenroll. You’ll continue in your current health plan as long as you’re eligible
Enroll in a plan. If you’re eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan.
Change plans. If you’re already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans. You can also switch between individual and family enrollment.
Your plan options depend on who you are and where you live. If you have multiple options, think about how you prefer to get care and how this affects your out-of-pocket costs.
Here’s how to learn more about your options and decide which plan is right for you.
By mail or fax: Send an enrollment form to your TRICARE regional contractor or designated provider.
Looking for step-by-step instructions, contact information, and enrollment forms?
Go to Enroll or Purchase a Plan, choose the plan you want to enroll in, and follow the steps to enroll.
If you aren’t already in a plan and you don’t enroll in one during open season, you’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic, if space is available.
If you’re already enrolled in a plan and you don’t make changes, you’ll continue in your current health plan as long as you’re eligible.
Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you only can enroll in or change enrollment to a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select if you have a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event.
